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Nordson Corporation (NASDAQ:NDSN): How Much Money Comes Back To Investors?

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If you are currently a shareholder in Nordson Corporation (NASDAQ:NDSN), or considering investing in the stock, you need to examine how the business generates cash, and how it is reinvested. What is left after investment, determines the value of the stock since this cash flow technically belongs to investors of the company. I will take you through NDSN’s cash flow health and the risk-return concept based on the stock’s cash flow yield, using the most recent financial data. This will help you think about the company from a cash perspective, which is a crucial factor to investing.

What is Nordson’s cash yield?

Nordson generates cash through its day-to-day business, which needs to be reinvested into the company in order for it to continue operating. What remains after this expenditure, is known as its free cash flow, or FCF, for short.

There are two methods I will use to evaluate the quality of Nordson’s FCF: firstly, I will measure its FCF yield relative to the market index yield; secondly, I will examine whether its operating cash flow will continue to grow into the future, which will give us a sense of sustainability.

Free Cash Flow = Operating Cash Flows – Net Capital Expenditure

Free Cash Flow Yield = Free Cash Flow / Enterprise Value

where Enterprise Value = Market Capitalisation + Net Debt

Nordson’s yield of 3.59% indicates its sub-standard capacity to generate cash, compared to the stock market index as a whole, accounting for the size differential. This means investors are taking on more concentrated risk on Nordson but are not being adequately rewarded for doing so.

Is Nordson’s yield sustainable?

Can NDSN improve its operating cash production in the future? Let’s take a quick look at the cash flow trend the company is expected to deliver over time. Over the next few years, expected growth for NDSN’s operating cash is negative, with operating cash flows expected to decline from its current level of US$505m. This is unfavourable to its future outlook, especially if capital expenditure heads the opposite direction. However, breaking down growth into a year on year basis, NDSN ‘s negative growth rate improves each year, from -4.5% next year, to 4.7% in the following year.

Next Steps:

The company’s low yield relative to the market index means you are taking on more risk holding the single-stock Nordson as opposed to the diversified market portfolio, and also being compensated for less. Furthermore, its declining operating cash flow doesn’t seem appealing. Now you know to keep cash flows in mind, You should continue to research Nordson to get a better picture of the company by looking at:

We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.

If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. On rare occasion, data errors may occur. Thank you for reading.